For the sixth time, Williams Lake’s Al Campsall is a Canadian national archery champion.
Campsall beat out 17 other competitors in the master’s 50 class from July 30 to Aug. 1 in Regina, Sask. at the 2011 Canadian 3D Archery Championships.
As a result of his high score at nationals, Campsall qualified for Team Canada and will compete at the 2011 World 3D Archery Championships in Austria from Sept. 2-4.
Campsall said he’s currently shooting with excellent form and confidence, and hopes he can put that to good use at the worlds.
“In the last two years [at nationals] I won by one or two points,” he said.
“This year I won by 38 points. I really think my practice and training are starting to bear fruit.”
Campsall scored a 756-point total over four rounds of shooting at nationals.
Second place went to Alberta’s Dean Thornton with 718 points, while Saskatchewan’s Ross MacAngus finished third with 704 points.
Campsall travelled to the national championship with Quesnel archers Samantha Wright and Michael Wright, who also both won gold medals in their respective events at nationals.
In the past, Campsall said he has qualified for the world championships; however, as a principal at Glendale elementary, the early September date always conflicted with his educational duties.
“Now that I’m retired I’ve got some time to do these things,” Campsall said.
“I’m really excited about competing at the world championships.”
During the world championships archers won’t be grouped into age categories. Rather, everyone — all of the best archers in the world — compete on the same stage.
“I’ll be going against all the young guys,” Campsall said with a laugh.
In preparation for the world championships Campsall said he’ll be practicing between two to three hours a day.
“I’m hoping to shoot well, but I really don’t have anything to compare it to,” he said.
“As far as I know North America is the hotbed for 3D archery but I’ll be shooting against the top men in the world and I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
For more on Campsall and the 2011 World 3D Championships see a future edition of the Tribune.